| Myth #1 - Chiropractors are not
real doctors.
A chiropractic college grants a D.C. or Doctorate of
Chiropractic degree. Chiropractors are licensed as
health care providers in every U.S. state and dozens of
countries around the world. While the competition for
acceptance in chiropractic school is not as fierce as
medical school, the chiropractic and medical school
curricula are extremely rigorous and virtually
identical. In fact, chiropractors have more hours of
classroom education than their medical counterparts. As
part of their education, chiropractic students also
complete a residency working with real patients in a
clinical setting, supervised by licensed doctors of
chiropractic. Once chiropractic students graduate, they
have to pass four sets of national board exams as well
as state board exams in the states where they want to
practice.
Just like medical doctors, chiropractors are
professionals that are subject to the same type of
testing procedures, licensing and monitoring by state
and national peer-reviewed boards. Federal and state
programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Workers'
Compensations programs cover chiropractic care, and all
federal agencies accept sick-leave certificates signed
by doctors of chiropractic.
The biggest difference between chiropractors and
medical doctors lies not in their level of education,
but in their preferred method of caring for people.
Medical doctors are trained in the use of medicines
(chemicals that affect your internal biochemistry) and
surgery. Consequently, if you have a chemical problem,
such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, or an infection,
medical doctors can be very helpful. However, if your
problem is that your spine is mis-aligned or you have
soft tissue damage causing pain, there is no chemical in
existence that can fix it. You need a physical solution
to correct a physical problem. That is where
chiropractic really shines. Chiropractors provide
physical solutions -- adjustments, exercises, stretches,
muscle therapy -- to help the body heal from conditions
that are physical in origin, such as back pain, muscle
spasms, headaches, and poor posture. Another distinction
is the fact that it is completely appropriate to receive
chiropractic care even if you do not have symptoms.
Unlike standard medical doctors, whom you visit when you
have a symptom to be treated, chiropractors offer
adjustments to improve spinal alignment and overall
well-being before symptoms develop.
Myth #2 - Medical doctors don't like chiropractors.
The American Medical Association's opposition to
chiropractic was at its strongest in the 1940s under the
leadership of Morris Fishbein. Fishbein called
chiropractors "rabid dogs" and referred to them as
"playful and cute, but killers" He tried to portray
chiropractors as members of an unscientific cult who
cared about nothing but taking their patients' money. Up
to the late 1970s and early 1980s, the medical
establishment purposely conspired to try to destroy the
profession of chiropractic. In fact, a landmark lawsuit
in the Supreme Court of Illinois in the 1980s found that
the American Medical Association was guilty of
conspiracy and was ordered to pay restitution to the
chiropractic profession.
In the 20 years since, the opinion of most medical
doctors has changed: several major studies have shown
the superiority of chiropractic in helping people with a
host of conditions, and medical doctors developed a
better understanding as to what chiropractors actually
do. Many people have returned to their medical doctors
and told them about the great results they experienced
at their chiropractors office. Hospitals across the
country now have chiropractors on staff, and many
chiropractic offices have medical doctors on staff.
Chiropractors and medical doctors are now much more
comfortable working together in cases where medical care
is necessary as an adjunct to chiropractic care.
Myth #3 - Once you start going to a chiropractor, you
have to keep going for the rest of your life.
This statement comes up frequently when the topic of
chiropractic is discussed. It is only partially true.
You only have to continue going to the chiropractor as
long as you wish to maintain the health of your
neuromusculoskeletal system. Going to a chiropractor is
much like going to the dentist, exercising at a gym, or
eating a healthy diet: As long as you keep it up, you
continue to enjoy the benefits.
Many years ago, dentists convinced everyone that the
best time to go to the dentist is before your teeth
hurt, that routine dental care will help your teeth
remain healthy for a long time. The same is true of
chiropractic care for your spine. It is important to
remember that, just like your teeth, your spine
experiences normal wear and tear as you walk, drive,
sit, lift, sleep, and bend. Routine chiropractic care
can help you feel better, move with more freedom, and
stay healthier throughout your lifetime. Although you
can enjoy the benefits of chiropractic care even if you
receive care for a short time, the real benefits come
into play when you make chiropractic care a part of your
wellness lifestyle.
Call us at (215)340-9949 to receive
relief now. |